HARKER HEIGHTS, Texas — Multiple Central Texas parks will receive grants from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission this year.
Falls County, as well as the Cities of Harker Heights and Bellmead, were among those chosen to receive some of the near record $20.6 million in grants approved by the commission.
The grants will allow 40 community parks across the state of Texas to gain things like nature trails, native gardens, playgrounds, splash pads, dog parks, sports fields and other amenities, said Texas Parks and Wildlife.
According to the commission, the grants are meant to help "create and enhance outdoor recreational opportunities" and are allocated to local government entities on a 50/50 reimbursement match basis.
Once funded, the sites that receive the grants must "remain parkland in perpetuity, properly maintained and open to the public," said the commission.
The commission awarded the grants in categories based on community population and scope:
- Urban Outdoor Recreation Grants are reserved for local units of government with populations of more than 500,000. Three communities received this grant.
- Non-Urban Outdoor Recreation Grants fund park projects in municipalities under 500,000. The commission approved awards to projects in 21 communities.
- Small Community Recreation Grants serve towns of less than 20,000 and were awarded to 16 communities.
The City of Harker Heights was one of the communities chosen to receive a grant, being awarded a $750,000 non-urban outdoor grant for the Kern Park project. The project reportedly includes a community garden, practice fields, site amenities, a playground, a recirculating splash pad and trails.
The City of Bellmead received a $150,000 small community grant for its Brame Park project, according to the commission. The Brame Park project reportedly includes lighting, additional play equipment, shade, a wheelchair swing, restroom improvements and native landscaping.
Falls County was also chosen to receive a $147,975 small community grant for the Falls on the Brazos project, which includes a shaded playground, utilities for RV hook-ups, restroom renovations, site amenities and parking.
The City of Marble Falls received a $726,207 non-urban outdoor grant for the Park View Park project. Elements of the project reportedly include a prefabricated restroom, bird viewing structures, trails, native landscaping and trees, nature play elements, picnic facilities, site amenities, a playground and surfacing, shade and site work.
Other Central Texas cities to receive grants include Creedmoor in Travis County, Converse in Bexar County, Cuero in DeWitt County, Schertz in Guadalupe County, Yoakum in Lavaca County and San Antonio in Bexar County.
The full list of parks, cities and communities to receive grants can be found at this link.
For more information about the local park grants program, visit the TPWD local park grants page.
More from 6 News: